Q. Yellowjackets are driving us crazy! If we try to eat on the deck, they find us. They’re chasing the hummingbirds away from the feeders. My son has been stung twice already. How much longer will yellowjackets be active? I’d like my yard back!
VIEW MOREQ. Do we have periodical cicadas in our area? When can we expect to see them?
A. We do have some broods of 17-year periodical cicadas in parts of the Northeast but not nearly in the numbers usually seen in the Midwest and farther south. We have no periodical cicada emergences this year though, and in fact, our next emergence isn’t until 2018. Before you say, “but I’ve seen cicadas this summer!” let me explain. What we see every summer is the annual cicada, not the periodical cicada.
VIEW MOREQ. We have this area on the side of our house where there are a bunch of very large yellowjackets nesting. I know yellowjackets usually nest in the ground and there must be a dozen holes there with wasps flying in and out, but I’ve never seen yellowjackets this big!
VIEW MOREQ. We have some yellowjackets on our front porch that seem to be using a paper wasp nest. They keep buzzing us every time we walk by. I thought yellowjackets nested in the ground.
A. Yellowjackets do nest either in the ground or they make enclosed papery nests in trees or shrubs; they do not occupy paper wasp nests. I think you may have made the acquaintance of the European paper wasp which looks very much like a yellowjacket!
VIEW MOREQ. I saw some flying bees that look like yellowjackets going into a hole in the ground near our driveway. I thought yellowjackets made those big, round nests in trees?
VIEW MOREQ. Some kind of big wasp is attacking my lilac bush. It looks like it’s chewing on the bark. It looks kind of like a yellowjacket only bigger and darker. Do you know what it is?
VIEW MOREQ. Help! Woodpeckers are destroying our house! In the last week or so, woodpeckers have been attacking our cedar siding and pecking holes. We can’t seem to scare them away. They’re right back. How can we get them to leave our house alone?
VIEW MORE32 Lake Ave.
Worcester, MA 01604
47 Thames Rd Ste 6&7
Hooksett, NH 03106